Rock River rising to near record
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JANESVILLE — The Rock River could rise to its fifth- or sixth-highest recorded level over the next few days, and forecasters don't expect it to go down soon.
"I don't think it's going to go down any time in the next week," said Chris Kuhlman, forecaster with the National Weather Service.
That's because Rock County could be hit with several storm systems in the next week or two, including the possibility of snow Friday night into Saturday.
"That will be some rain, possibly even snow actually," Kuhlman said. "We're not sure which it's going to be yet."
The Rock River already was above flood stage at Afton when the rain started Monday. Forecasters expected an inch and a half of rain Tuesday, but parts of Rock County saw 3 inches or more, Kuhlman said.
The wastewater treatment plant on Janesville's south side recorded 2.67 inches of rain between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. today.
As of early Tuesday morning, the river was at 10.9 feet at Afton, nearly 2 feet above flood stage. It was predicted to crest at 11.9 feet tonight, but Kuhlman said that prediction doesn't take into account future precipitation and probably will change.
At 11.5 feet, water surrounds at least two homes in Afton, closes several secondary roads and affects South River Road on Janesville's south side, according to the National Weather Service.
If the water does rise to 11.9 feet, it would be the fifth- or sixth-highest level recorded in Rock County, Kuhlman said.
Two of the top levels were recorded in 2008—12.2 feet in January and 13.5 feet, the all-time record, in June.
The National Weather Service is predicting major flooding in the Newville area. The river was at 10.8 feet at 4 a.m., less than a foot above flood stage, but predicted to crest at 11.5 feet Sunday.
At 11.3 feet, water is knee-deep over Blackhawk Road and Lamp Road floods, according to the weather service. As water rises, Lake Koshkonong merges with Mud Lake.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office is monitoring county roads, especially on the south side of the county, said Capt. Jude Maurer. As of this morning, deputies had posted high water warnings at South River Road south of Janesville and Summerville Road near Clinton but had not closed any roads, he said.
Drivers should keep a lookout for water-covered roads, especially at night, Maurer said.
Janesville officials were monitoring the situation and creating a plan this morning, Manager Eric Levitt said. The city hadn't closed any roads this morning.
The city might put sandbags along the river downtown and close roads in and around Riverside and Traxler parks, but that hadn't been decided this morning, Levitt said.
Though forecasters don't expect the river to get to June's record-breaking level, the city is using knowledge it gained last year, Levitt said.
"We are doing some planning based on last year's event," he said. "I think they had pretty effective communication last year, and we're going to try to have something similar this year too."
Weather was blamed, at least partially, for a barn falling over in La Prairie Township on Tuesday night. The barn at 1910 County J fell over in the wind at 11:09 p.m., Maurer said. About 12 cows escaped but were rounded up and placed in another enclosure, he said.
Mar 26, 2009 at 6:13 a.m.
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Booch...it's all Bush's fault, just like sad state of our economy.
Mar 25, 2009 at 10:29 p.m.
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Stanz - raising the river bank won't do anything except cause flooding problems in other areas. Floodplain areas such as Afton are created naturally by the river system to take on excess water during high discharge events. If you were to channelize that water, by building a higher wall or levee, you instantly increase the speed at which the water flows which will cause major problems with streambank erosion and even worse flooding in the Beloit area and down through Rockford. The only way to decrease flooding in the Janesville/AFton area would be to allow Lake Koshkonong to increase in size thus holding more water - and I don't think the property owners in that area would like that. Unfortunately when homes were built in flood prone areas we didn't understand river systems very well, and now there isn't much we can do but watch and wait.
Mar 25, 2009 at 7:10 p.m.
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mandsroofing.......thank you for offering your services.!!!!!! I hope no one has to take you up on it but if they do and they read here , you just might be getting calls. thank you again and as always.......
STAY SAFE!!!!
Mar 25, 2009 at 3:32 p.m.
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I hope I'm correct in catching the sarcasm in the Obama post and that wasn't serious.
Here's an idea! Rather then spend all the money on flood recovery and this city project or that city project. We invest on the improving the river banks? Maybe rising them? You know, so it takes a higher level for it to over flow?
I'm not in charge, but just thought it could help. Might cost a lot in the beginning but could save a lot more in the future because with global warming effecting each year's snow and rainfall, I don't see these floods as a once every (10, 20, 100 year) thing.
Mar 25, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.
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I know some of those Main Street businesses were just getting repairs from last summer's flood completed. Hope this time isn't so bad.
Mar 25, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.
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as I wtite this they are sandbagging behind main street it is at top of the wall and the walkway is closed from milwaukee street to centerway.
Mar 25, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
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For the unemployed residents along the Rock river, I'm guessing the demand for an Ark is also rising, supply and demand.
Mar 25, 2009 at 12:04 p.m.
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i thought obama was going to end this?
maybe it'll take him a year -- so that would mean no floods next year and in the future. we can still blame this one on the big oil bushies - cause they cause global warming don't ya know.
Mar 25, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.
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can't sandbag this time......back is not doing very well..........will find other things to do to help those in need.........
STAY SAFE!!!!!
Mar 25, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.
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yah, mom. I recall that same statement from last week! ;-)
Mar 25, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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When it rains a lot, rivers and water rises. When they rise too much, they go over and produce flooding. One can look outside when it's raining very hard for days on end and come up with the assumption that there's a good change it will flood. Last year, for those that said we will never see anything like this flooding again...never say never and anything can happen.
Mar 25, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
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Though forecasters don't expect the river to get to June's record-breaking level, the city is using knowledge it gained last year, Levitt said.
And last week they said we weren't going to flood.
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